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XINGTON,-I775 



No maclitcning thirst for blood had they, 
No battie-joy was theirs who set 
Against the alien bayonet 

Their hoinespun breasts in that old dav. 



Their feet had trodden peaceful ways, 
Thffy loved not strife, they dreaded pain ; 
They saw not, what to us is plain, 

That God would make man's wrath his praise, 



No seers were ihey, but simple men : 
Its vast results the future hid ; 
The meaning of the work they did 

Was strange and dark and doubtful the 



Swift as the summons came they left 
The plough, mid-furrow, standing still, 
The half-ground corn-grist in the mill. 

The spade in earth, the axe in cleft. 



They went where duty seemed to call ; 
They scarcely asked the reason why : 
They only knew they could but die. 

And death was not the worst of all. 



The bridal time of Law and Love, 
The gladness of the world's release. 
When, war-sick, at the feet of Peace 

The hawk shall nestle with the dove, — 

10. 

The golden age of brotherhood, 
Unknown to other rivalries 
Than of the mild humanities, 

And gracious interchange of good. 



When closer strand shall lean to strand 
Till meet, beneath saluting flags, 
The eagle of our mountain crags, 

The lion of our Mother-land. 



7"^'" 



Of man for man the sacrifice. 

Unstained by blood, save theirs, they gave. 

The flowers that blossomed from their grave 
Have sown themselves beneath all skies. 



Their death-shot shook the feudal tower. 
And shattered slavery's chain as well : 
On the sky's dome, as on a bell. 

Its echo struck the world's great hour. 



That fateful echo is not dumb : 
The nations, listening to its sound, 
Wait, from a century's vantage-ground. 

The holier triumphs yet to come, — 







During the spring of 
1775, the colonists of Mass- 
r:-^--. achusetts, anticipating a 
-_ _.. possible rupture with the 
Royal Government, had tak- 
r en the precaution to collect 
:^,._,i^^^r" a few military stores at con- 

^^~" " "^"I_ venient points in the interior. Sev- 
""■'"" eral leading patriots had also shown 
_.-^^_, extraordinary independence in assert- 
ing their rights, and creating a public 
~— sentiment which was opposed to the policy of the 
government. Hearing of this. Gen. Gage, the 
_ governor, jealous of his prerogatives, and eager 

^,._^ '■jj?5r''~^ to maintain the authority of the crown, formed a plan to 
...^^^^..^NhCT-'-- destroy the stores at Concord, and get possession, if possible, 
. "~~^*~' of the persons of John Hancock and Samuel Adams, who 

were known to be in the vicinity. Accordingly a secret e.xpedition was organized, 
consisting of. a detachment of eight hundred grenadiers, light infantry, and marines, 

under the command of Lieut.-Col. Fran- 



" Meanwhile, impatient to monnt and ride, 
Booted and spurred, with a heavy stride 
On tlie opposite shore walked Paul Revere. 
Now he patted his horse's side, 
Now gazed at the landscape far and near. 
Then, impetuous, stamped the earth. 
And turned and tightened his saddle-girth ; 
But mostly he watched with eager search 
The belfry-tower of the Old North Church, 
As it rose above the graves on the hill. 
Lonely and spectral and sombre and still. 
And lo ! as he looks, on the belfry's height 
A glimmer, and then a gleam of light ! 
He springs to the saddle, the bridle he turns, 
But lingers and gazes, till full on his sight 
A second lamp in the belfry burns ! " 



cis Smith, of the Tenth British Regi- 
ment, and Major John Pitcairn. 

On the 1 8th of April, a number of 
officers in disguise were sent to Cam- 
bridge and Lexington on a tour of in- 
spection, with orders to intercept all 
suspicious communications. That night, 
about ten o'clock, the fated expedition 
embarked from the foot of Boston Com- 
mon in the boats belonging to the ves- 
sels-of-war at anchor in Charles River. 

" They will miss their aim," said one 
of the citizens, who witnessed their de- 



parture. 

"What aim? " asked Lord Percy, who chanced to be standing near. 

" Why, the cannon at Concord," was the reply. 

Percy, fearing trouble, at once reported to the governor what he had heard ; and 
orders were immediately issued that no one should be allowed to leave the town. 
But it was too late. Joseph Warren had followed all these movements with sleep- 
less vigilance, and had already sent two trusty couriers, by different routes, to 
Lexington with despatches. William Dawes was to go out through Roxbury, and 



Paul Revere by way of Charlestown. Revere was ferried across under the very 
guns of the Somerset man-of-war. Having learned, by a preconcerted signal from 
the tower of the Old North Church, which way the king's troops had gone, he imme- 
diately started on a fleet horse upon his momentous errand. 



".\ hurry of hoofs in the vilhigc street, 
A shape hi the moonlight, a bulk in the dark. 
And Ijeneath, from the jjcbbles, in passing, a 

spark 
Struck out by a steed flying fearless and 
fleet : 



Tluit was all ! .'\nd yet, through the gloom and 

the light. 
The fate of a nation was riding that night ; 
And the spark struck out by that steed in his 

flight 
Kindled the land into flame with its heat. " 



Passing Charlestown Neck, he narrowly escaped capture at the hands of a patrol- 
ling party, and pushed on through Medford and Menotomy (now Arlington), giving 
the alarm at every house upon the road. Shortly after midnight, he arrived at the 
parsonage in Lexington, where Hancock and Adams were staying with their intimate 
friend and fellow-patriot, the Rev. Jonas Clark. The house was guarded by a squad 
of eight minute-men under Sergeant Munroe. Revere rode up in great haste, and 
demanded admission. The sergeant objected, and said the family had retired, and 
must not be disturbed by any noise about the house. "Noise!" cried Revere, 
" you'll have noise enough here before long. The regulars are coming out ! " As 
he knocked at the door, Mr. Clark opened a window, and inquired who was there. 
Just then Hancock rose from his bed, and, recognizing Revere's voice, shouted, 
" Come in, Revere, we are not afraid of you." Shortly after, the other messenger, 
Dawes, who had come out through Roxbury, Brookline, and Brighton, arrived with 
the same tidings. 

Without stopping to rest, these faithful heralds mounted again, and started off for 
Concord. They were joined by young Dr. Prescott of Concord, who had been 
spending the evening at Lexington. Glad of each other's company, they rode on 
rapidly together, in the light of the full moon, spreading the alarm at every point. 
Just before reaching Brooks's Tavern, near the Concord line, they were surrounded 




=N>'_ 




by a party of British officers ; aiirl 
Revere, who was riding, just then, 
a little in advance, was captured. 
Prescott, however, escaped over a 
stone wall, and succeeded in carry- 
ing the news to Concord. The offi- 
cers questioned Revere closely, and 
soon decided, for their own safety, 
doubtless, to return towards Lexing- 
ton, where, about three o'clock in 
the morning, they released their 
prisoners, in consequence of the 

general alarm which had spread throughout the vilhige. "^"' 

Meanwhile, the troops, who were the cause of all this excitement, 
had landed at East Cambridge, near where the Court House now 
stands, and proceeded stealthily over an unfrequented and difficult 
route across the marshes, guided by a young Tory named Murray, till 
they came to the old Charlestown Lane, now Milk Street. The rest 
of the march was by a well-travelled road, along North Avenue, where the old Dav- 
enport Tavern still stands, and by Wetherby's, in Menotomy, where the Committee 
of Safety, appointed by the Provincial Congress, had been in session the previous 
evening. As the British column passed the house, the commander sent a small 
guard to search the premises. So sudden was their approach, that Gerry, Orne, 

and Lee, prominent members of the 
Committee, who were passing the night 
there, barely had time to escape, half- 
dressed, into the neighboring fields, 
where they lay concealed until the dan- 
ger was over. 

It was not long before Col. Smith 
found, to his dismay, that the news of 
his expedition had travelled before him. 
Though he had maintained profound 
silence, suppressing the ordinary drum- 
beat, and even all conversation amongst 
his men, he now perceived that the se- 
cret was out. Shadowy forms were hov- 
ering upon his flank ; horsemen were 
galloping ahead ; alarm-bells and signal 
guns rent the midnight air with their 
ominous sound. It was evident that the 
country for miles around was thoroughly 
aroused. Accordingly, after a brief halt, 
the colonel concluded to send forward 
six companies of light infantry and ma- 
rines under Major Pitcairn, while he 
despatched an express to Boston for 




V-.fc2Bte ^"'"Tn\\ 




r~>. 



re-enforcements, — a prudent measure, which 
saved him from absolute defeat before the close 
of the day. 

Pitcairn's troops had not gone far up the road, 
when they met the officers, who had released 
Revere, coming back in great haste with the 
" ^ news that hundreds of men had assembled on 
Lexington Green to oppose their march. The 
story was Exaggerated, as such stories are apt 
to be ; but the alarm had spread with such 
rapidity, that the minute-men had turned out 
in full force, under Capt. John Parker, as early 
as two o'clock. The roll was called ; and, in- 
cluding the old men and all, one hundred and 
•~ - thirty answered to their names. Every man 

was ordered to load his gun with powder and ball, but in no case to fire, unless 
they were attacked. They remained some time on parade, waiting for the enemy. 
Presently one of the messengers, who had been sent to ascertain the movements of 
the regulars, returned, with the report that they were nowhere to be seen : conse- 
quendy the men were dismissed, with instructions to be in readiness to report at 
the call of the drum. Some of them returned to their homes near by ; others took 
refuge from the chilly night-air in Buckman's Tavern, a place of common resort, 
just opposite the old meeting-house. Quiet having been restored, no doubt many 
of them, after discussing the matter for some time, gradually fell asleep, in the con- 
fident belief that there would be no further disturbance. 

About half-past four o'clock, however, just after daybreak, Thaddeus Bowman, 
one of the scouts sent to reconnoitre along the Boston road, came galloping into the 
village, with the news that the British were only a mile and a half away. Immedi- 
ately the drum called to arms ; the signal guns were fired ; and the bell in the old 
belfry, near the meeting-house, rang out its fearful warning. All the militia within 
reach hastened to obey the call. They were formed in two lines on the northern 
side of the >,ommon. One of their number, Sylvanus Wood of Woburn, who was 
present in the ranks, says he counted all that stood there, and found only thirty-eight 
men under orders. It 'S known that there were as many more looking on who did 
not belong to the company. 




IIUILT ABOUT THE YEAR 169O. 



It was a critical 
moment. The des- 
tiny of a nation was 
hanging in the scale. 
This little band of 
farmers, standing- 
there on their own 
training-field, at sun- 
rise, anxiously look- 
ing for the king's 
troops, were ready, 
every man of them, 
to defend their 
homes from invasion 
and insult ; but they 




little knew what mo- 
mentous interests 
were pending upon 
their action. They 
were not lawless ad- 
venturers, eager for 
a skirmish, or wait- 
ing for booty. They 
asked for nothing, 
save the privilege of 
enjoying what they 
had. Though many 
of them had seen 
service on the fron- 
tier, in the French 



and Indian War, they preferred the quiet, inoffensive pursuits of industry at home. 
They did not follow the profession of arms, though they were always good marks- 
men with their flint-locks. It was a broad patriotism that animated them. They 
prized their liberties, and would not tamely submit to have them trampled under 
foot. In this they made common cause with their fellow-citizens in other parts of 
the country. And so, when the men of Lexington arose that night, and " nobly 
dared to be free,'' they struck a blow for liberty, which resounded through all the 
land. 

As the British approached the village, they saw unmistakable signs of resistance, 
and heard the drum beat to arms. Supposing this to be a challenge, their com- 
mander ordered them to halt, load and prime, after which they doubled their ranks, 
and marched on rapidl)', with a shout, up to the meeting-house, where a portion of 
their number left the road, and filed off in platoons upon the common. The provin- 
cials were astonished to see such an imposing force arrayed against them. There 
were, in fact, six or eight hundred altogether; but, to the inexperienced eye of the 
militia, it seemed as if there were twelve or fifteen hundred. Major Pitcairn rode 
forward, at the left of his line ; and, drawing a pistol from his holster, he command- 



ed the Americans, with 
mingled threats and 
oaths, to lay down their 
arms, and disperse. 
Capt. Parker, fearing 
lest, in the excitement 
of the moment, some 
of his men might dis- 
charge their guns too 
hastily, cried out, 
" Don't fire unless you 
are fired on ; but, if 
they want a war, let it 
begin here." At the 
same time he threat- 




ened to shoot any one 
who should attempt to 
leave his post. Pit- 
cairn, finding that his 
orders were not obeyed, 
and hearing, as he sup- 
posed, the report of a 
gun near the opposite 
wall, commanded his 
men, without further 
delay, to fire. Seeing 
them hesitate a mo- 
ment, he brandished 
his sword, and dis- 
charged his own pistol ; 



whereupon the first platoon fired, but without any apparent result. The order was 
instantly repeated ; and a second volley was discharged all along the line, with 
deadly effect. The gallant little company was broken. Several of the men fell 
dead and wounded. Cries of distress rent the air. There was no question now as 
to their right to resist ; and they immediately returned the fire. 

The engagement continued on both sides for a moment, when Capt. Parker, to 
prevent further bloodshed, ordered a retreat. There wasa scattering fire, however, 
some time longer. Jonas Parker had his ammunition in his hat, on the ground, 
between his feet. He was wounded, and fell. Raising himself up, he discharged 
his piece, and attempted to load again upon his knees. He had often said, that, 
whatever might happen, he 
would never run from the 



British. He was true to his 
word. He fought to the 
last. Such persistent cour- 
age attracted the attention 
of the enemy, and the brave ( 
fellow was transfi.xed by a 
bayonet. Jonathan Har- 
rington fell in front of his 
own house, on the north 
side of the common. His 
wife, who was standing at 
the window, saw him fall, 
bleeding at the chest. She 
ran to meet him. He 
stretched out his hands to- 




'*-Sz?;:°'^:!i3<f'^'^''<^ •'"*'-"''""'- 



wards her, but soon sank, 
and expired. Isaac Muz- 
zy and Robert Munroe 
were also killed on the 
common. Munroe had 
served in the French war, 
and was ensign at the cap- 
ture of Louisburg, in 1758. 
Just before the British 
came, Caleb Harrington 
had gone to the meeting- 
house, with three others, 
to get some powder which 
was stored there in a loft : 
and, while attempting to 
escape, he was seen, and 
shot. Hadlev and Brown 



were killed after leaving the common. Asahel Porter of Woburn was not in the 
company, but had been captured by the regulars that morning, and released on 
parole just before the engagement. He was shot while running, a short distance 
east of the inn. Seven men were killed, and nine wounded, — more than a quarter 
of the whole company. 



" Were these men true .> We ask not, were Ihey brave, — 
Men who their lives thus to their country gave .' 

When such men fall, or put their foes to flight. 
Resisting wrong, or battling for the right ; 
When they of freedom's army lead the van. 
Or fall, as martyrs in the cause of man, — 
Man's heart hath never willingly forgot 
The holy day, the consecrated spot, 
Marked by an act of valor or of faith, 
Or by a noble deed or noble death." 

The engagement lasted less than half an hour. Only two of the British soldiers 
were wounded. Pitcairn's horse was struck in two places. The officers occupied 
a conspicuous position for a marksman ; but the smoke enveloped them to such a 
degree, that it was almost impossible, during the action, for the militia to see the 




line ; and, after the summary slaughter of so many of their own nmnber, they saw 
the utter hopelessness of the contest, and wisely withdrew to seek shelter behind 
houses and stone walls. 

It has been a disputed question, what part Col. Smith, the commander of the 
expedition, had in this engagement. The best evidence seems to show, that, after 
sending forward the greater portion of his command under the major, he halted some 
time on the road with the grenadiers, possibly to await an e.xpress from Boston, and 
also, it may be, to prevent any communication among the people, who, he must 
have noticed, were rapidly getting ready to oppose his march. It is generally 
believed, that, when he heard the alarm given at Lexington, he pressed on, and 
joined the troops drawn up on the common. The early prints of the battle repre- 
sent files of regulars standing in the rear. 

The old three-story meeting-house, which was such a prominent object at that 
day, was taken down in 1793. The detached belfry, which did such good service 
on the morning of the 19th, has also long since disappeared. Most of the other 




The accompanying sketch represents a brace of pis- 
tols used by Major Pitcairn on Lexington Common. 
These pistols have a full and well-authenticated history. 
During the retreat, in the latter part of the day, Pit- 
cairn's horse was shot under him, and he barely es- 
caped with his life, leaving his equipage in the hands 
of the pursuing Americans. These pistols were then 
taken, and were subsequently presented to Gen. Israel 
Putnam, who used them through the war. Af his 
death, they were placed on the drapery of his coffin, as he was borne to the grave. They became an 
heir-loom in the Putnam family, and in 1827 were brought to Lexington, and shown to three mem- 
bers of Capt. Parker's com|:)any, one of whom, Col. Munroe, recognized them from their peculiar 
construction and ornament, and said he saw Major Pitcairn discharge one of them before any other 
shot was fired. It is, therefore, the first weapon used in formal action in the Revolutionary War. 
An additional certificate accompanies the pistols, signed by Col. Aaron Burr, aide-de-camp to Gen. 
Putnam. They are kindly loaned, for exhibition at the Le.xington Centennial, by the widow of 
John P. Putnam of Cambridge, N.Y. 




buildings, however, that stood that 
day around the common, are still to 
be seen. May they long be preserved 
as eloquent though silent witnesses 
of an event which tiiey help so much 
to illustrate ! 

As soon as the firing ceased, a few 
of the red-coats, it is said, pursued 
the retreating farmers up Bedford 
(now Hancock) Street, and over into 
the adjacent fields. Some of them 
went to the neighboring houses to 
get water to drink. But they soon 
re-formed, fired a volley, and huzzaed 
three times, as if in token of victorv. 
They then resumed their march to- 
wards Concord, si.\ miles farther. 
The sun was now rising over the 
scene. The villagers immediately assembled in large numbers on the common. It 
was a strange, a horrible, spectacle that met their eyes. There lay the dead and 
dying, — honored sires, intrepid sons, heroic brothers, weltering in their own blood 
upon the tender grass. It had never been a gory field before. Such groans and 
sighs had never been heard in that peaceful village. All the people — men, women, 
and children — now ran to remove the dead, and assist the wounded. Grief and 
indignation filled their breasts. Words failed to describe the intensity of their feel- 
ing. Had it really come to this? Had the hated British dared to do it? Was 
there, then, no reason nor justice with the government ? AA'ere the king's troops 
thus to play the part of butchers ? Then 
let it be so. On that desolated, but now 
holy, field the vow was made to avenge 
the blood of these martyrs. Would not 
" righteous heaven " approve the " sol- 
emn appeal " ? 

It was not long before Capt. Parker 
collected the remnant of his little band 
together, and marched on with them 
after the British, towards Concord. No 
holiday soldiers these, after such a fear- 
ful loss, to chase an enemy like that. 
Hirelings would never have done it ; 
timid, cautious men would not have fa- 
vored it : but these heroes were made of 
sterner stuff ; and they had the honor of 
being the first in arms to show the world 
what Americans meant when they spoke 
of liberty and inalienable rights. They 
captured, at different times that morning. 







^^^-/ 



FROM AN OLD I'LATIi UY V. GKEEN, EN(iHAVI-K TO HIS 
MAJESTY. PUUUSHED IN LONDON, 1777. 




"-"JCI, 



A part of this house was 
built by Rev. John Han- 
cock in i6g8. The present 
front was added about the 
'J year 1733, by one of his 
sons. Here the honored 
minister died, after his 
long pastorate, in 1755. 
Here his grandson, John 
Hancock, tlie distinguished 
patriot, spent several years of his 
boyhood. Rev. Jonas Clark, who 
succeeded the venerable Hancock, 




lived in this house during his eventful ministry of fifty-one years. He was 
the intimate friend of Gov. Hancock, whose cousin he married. Dr. Warren 
and Samuel Adams were frequent guests here during the period preceding the 
outbreak of the war. The room in which these eminent patriots discussed grave 
questions of state is still to be seen, very much as they left it. The large fire- 
place, the ample wainscoting, and the hard-pine floors, have undergone no apparent change. The 
same figured paper adorns the walls. The old andirons, tables, chairs, and jugs may still be seen. 
The only existing likeness of Mr. Clark is a silhouette, taken in his wig, by his youngest son. It was 
on the ridge opposite, that Adams, hearing the approach of the British, uttered that prophetic e.xcla- 
mation, which has been inscribed as a classic upon the town seal. Washington, Lafayette, Kossuth, 
and other distinguished persons, have visited this ancient homestead. 

seven of the regulars who had lingered behind. These were the first prisoners 
taken in the Revolutionary War. 

The news of the tragedy at Lexington flew like the wind all over the country. 
Men and horses were not wanting to carry the tidings. Before noon, an express 
reached Worcester, shouting, as he passed through the streets, " To arms, to arms ! 
the war has begun ! " His horse fell exhausted by the church. Another was pro- 
cured, and the rider went on. Alarm-bells were rung ; cannon were fired ; and 
messengers sent into every town. Newburyport received the news at about the 
same time ; Newport, R.I., early the next day. The battle was fought on Wednes- 
day, April 19. On Sunday, the 23d, bel^veen the church services, New York 
heard of it ; and the people immediately arose, disarmed the soldiers, seized the 
fort and magazines, unloaded two transports bound to Boston, and forbade all pilots 
to bring any more king's ships into port. On Monday, the 24th, at five, p.m., a 




courier reached Philadelphia, 
with despatches from Lexing- 
ton. The old Independence- 
Hall bell was rung; the news 
spread like wild-fire ; and thou- 
sands of people assembled on 
the square, and took immedi- 
ate action. Virginia accept- 
ed the royal challenge, and 
pledged her cordial support to 
Massachusetts. The citizens 
of Charleston, S.C, as soon 
as they received the news, 
seized fhe arsenal, and de- 
clared themselves, through 
their Provincial Congress, as 
"ready to sacrifice their lives 
and fortunes." From New 
Hampshire came a message, 
" The news from Lexington 
has pierced the ears of the 
coin, Bedford, and other towns. 




inhabitants of our colony; and 
our men, fired with zeal in the 
common cause, are flying to 
your assistance." From Con- 
necticut came an encouraging 
word, " The ardor of our peo- 
ple is such that they can't be 
kept back." And beyond the 
AUeghanies the news finally 
found its way. A party of 
hunters in the beautiful vallev 
of the Elkhorn, in Kentucky, 
hearing of it, gave the name 
of Lexington to their encamp- 
ment, in honor of the " birth- 
place of American liberty." 

The British found the peo- 
ple of Concord ready to re- 
ceive tliem. I'"rom an early 
hour, the militia had been 
pouring in from Acton, Lin- 
Messengers had arrived with exciting news from 
Lexington. Col. Barrett had improved the time by concealing a large portion of 
the military stores. About seven o'clock, some of the militia companies, after 
parading on the common, marched out on the Lexington road, until they saw the 
British within two miles of the village, approaching rapidly, with a force three times 
as large as their own. Accordingly the provincials retreated, and finally took up a 
position, under Major Buttrick, on a hill beyond the Nonli Bridge, about a mile 
from the centre. The regulars entered Concord in two divisions. Col. Smith and 
Major Pitcairn remained in the town with the larger portion of the troops, while 
they sent a, detachment of about two hundred men, under Capt. Par- 
sons, to hold the North Bridge. The chief object of the expedition, 
the destruction of military stores, was only partially accomplished. 
The news brought by Dr. Prescott, and the subsequent delay at Lex- 
ington, saved thousands of dollars to the colony, and 
nearly frustrated the whole design of the enemy. 
They succeeded, however, in knocking off the trun- 
nions of three iron cannon, and burning several gun- 
carriages. They also broke open sixty barrels of flour, 
half of which was afterwards saved. The liberty-pole 
was cut down, and the Court House set on fire ; 
though the flames were afterwards extinguished. 

This work of destruction was soon checked by the 

report of guns at the bridge. Companies of minute- 

I men from the neighboring towns had been constantly 

arriving at the rendezvous on the hill, and they now 

numbered about four hundred and fifty. They saw 




the depredations which the Brit- 
ish were making in the town. 
The ascending smoke revealed 
the sad fact. It was enough. 
Brave men could not stand by, 
and witness such a sight. With- 
out further delay, they descend- 
ed towards the bridge, and soon 
received the first fire from the 
enemy. Other shots followed 
in rapid succession, by which 
the gallant Capt. Davis and Ab- 
ner Hosmer, of the Acton com- 
pany, were killed on the spot. 
The militia, being then ordered 
to fire, poured forth a deadly 
volley, killing two, and wound- 
ing at least eight, of the regulars. 
This was about ten o'clock. 
The firing soon ceased ; and the 
enemy retreated in great haste 




'^fM f(AKCo<^ 



to the village, pursued by the 
provincials. Col. Smith collect- 
ed his forces, and, seeing the 
imminent danger to which he 
was e.xposed, left Concord at 
noon on his return-march to Bos- 
ton. The invaders now became 
fugitives ; and the retreat soon 
turned into a flight. The whole 
county of Middlesex was out, 
every man with his powder-horn 
and musket, ready to do yeoman 
service. The deep resentment 
of an injured people was aroused. 
Without much order or disci- 
pline, they posted themselves 
behind houses, trees, and rocks, 
and poured an almost incessant 
fire into the enemy's ranks. 
Capt. Parker's company again 



appeared upon the scene ; Wo- 
burn " turned out extraordinary," with one hundred and eighty men ; Reading and 
Billerica were there in force. The British column, exposed to such a galling fire 
in flank and rear, was thrown into the greatest confusion. The officers could 
hardly keep the troops in line, or prevent a general stampede. Col. Smith was" 
severely wounded ; many of his men were killed ; and, had it not been that a large 
re-enforcement was close at hand, they must necessarily have soon surrendered. 

Orders had been given by Gen. Gage very early that morning for three regiments 
of infantry, and two divisions of marines, with two field-pieces, to be ready to march 
at four o'clock, for the relief of the expedition. Owing to a series of blunders, 
they did not get away from the barracks in Cornhill until nearly nine o'clock. 
The brigade was under the command of Earl Percy, an accomplished young noble- 
man of the illustrious family of Northumberland. They went out over Boston 
Neck, through Ro.xbury and Brookline, and crossed Charles River on the old bridge 



^ A.£^.7^ / -^ ^^^ A^-tr ^"f ^:r^ 






AUTOGRAPH OF JONA. HARRINGTON, THE LAST SURVIVOR OF THE LEXINGTON MINUTE-MEN, WHO UIBD IN 

1S54, AGED 95 YEARS. 




THE PLEDGE AND ITS REDEMPTION. 

RESPONSE OF LEXINGTON TO THE 

APPEAL OF BOSTON, 

DEC, 1773. 

'We trust in God, that, should the state of our affairs 

require it, we shall be readv to sacrirce our estates 

and every thing dear in life, vea, and life 

itself, in support of the common cause." 



NAMES OF THE CITIZENS 

OF LEXINGTON 

WHO FELL IN FREEDOM'S CAUSE, APRIL 19, 1775. 



ENSIGN ROUERT MUNROE. 
JONAS rARKEK. 
SAMUEL HADLEV. 
JOHN liROWN. 
ISAAC MUZZEV. 



CALEB nARRIN(;TON. 
JONATHAN HARRINGTON, JUN. 
JEDEUIAH MUNROE. 
JOHN RAYMOND. 
NATHANIEL WVMAN. 



"They toured out their generous blood like water, be- 
fore THEV KNEW WHETHER IT WOULD FERTILIZE THE LAND OF 
FREEDOM OK OF BONDAGE*." — tVebster. 

near the colleges. The baggage-wagons fell behnid, and 
were captured in ^^'est Cambridge. Perc)' had nearly 
reached the village of Lexington, when, about two o'clock, 
he met the returning troops, who had been terribly harassed 
all the way from Concord. The cannon were immediately 
planted at either end of the plateau, on which the combined 
forces were drawn up ; and for about an hour the tide was stayed. The Munroe 
Tavern was taken for headquarters, and used by the British as a hospital for their 
wounded. Si.x buildings in the vicinity were ruthlessly set on fire, and burned to 
the ground. Much damage was done to other property. Many defenceless persons 
were grossly insulted ; and a feeble old man was killed. After a short rest, Lord 
Percy abandoned his position, and ordered a retreat. At every point on the road, 
he encountered increasing numbers of sharpshooters, who made havoc in his ranks. 
The dead, and many of the wounded, had to be left behind. His ammunition was 
nearly exhausted ; and he made all haste to reach the end of his fatal journey. 
. Meanwhile Gen. Heath and Dr. Warren had arrived upon the scene of action, 
and did much, by their presence and counsel, to collect the scattered provincials, 
and form them into military order. Minute-men came in from every quarter. Dor- 
chester, Milton, and Dedham sent large numbers, as did Charlestown, Medford, and 



This building was dedi- 
cated April 19, 1 87 1. It 
contains a large auditorium 
for public assemblies ; a 
free library, named in honor 
of its chief benefactor. Mis. 
Gary ; a collection of Revo- 
lutionary relics ; and a me- 
morial hall, adorned with 
statues of a minute-man of 
1775, ''"'' ^ soldier of the 
late war (furnished by Bat- 
terson). Appropriate marble 
tablets are placed upon the 
side walls. Statues of John 




Hancock (by Gould) and 
Samuel Adams (by Mill- 
more) have been executed in 
Italy for the vacant niches. 
Congress aided the cause by 
a grant of condemned can- 
non, one of which stands in 
the corridor. The follow- 
ing is the inscription over 
the portal : — 

LEXINGTON CONSECRATES THIS 
HALL AND ITS EMBLEMS TO 
THE MEMORY OF THE FOUND- 
,ERS AND THE DEFENDERS OF 
OUR FREE INSTITUTIONS. 



THE SONS DEFENDED \A^HAT THE 
FATHERS WON. 



NAMES OF RESIDENTS OF LEXINGTON, 

AND OTHERS SERVING ON HER QUOTA, WHO GAVE 

THEIR LIVES TO THEIR COUNTRY IN THE 

WAR OF THE REBELLION, 



FREDERICK D. FISKE. 
CHARLES H. FISKE. 
BEMJ.'VMIN F. THORN. 
WILLL'VM DECOTY. 
;OHN MANLEY. 
CHARLES H. PUFFER. 
CHARLES B. HARRINGTON. 
Capt. CH.ARLES R. JOHNSON. 
CHARLES CUTLER. 
EDWARD E. HATCH. 



JOHN O NEIL. 
CORP. JOSEPH SIMONDS. 
CHARLES FLAGG. 
WARREN KINNASTON. 
JOHN F. EVRON. 
DENNIS MCMAHON. 
THOMAS H. EARLE. 
TIMOTHY LEARY. 
WILLIAM GROVER. 
CHARLES O. MUZZEV. 




Lynn. The most distinguished company was that from 
Danvers, which marched sixteen miles in four hours, and 
suffered in the engagement more than any other company, 
e.xcept Capt. Parker's at Lexington. The famous Essex 
Regiment, under Col. Pickering, did not arrive in time to 
check the return of the British; and about sunset Lord 
Percy reached Charlestown, and crossed the river under cover of the guns of the 
ships-of-war. The Americans lost that day, in killed, wounded, and missing, 93 ; 
the British, 273. The day ended ; but the sword did not return to its sheath. 
Throughout the Revolutionary War, the anniversary of this memorable day was 
" statedly observed " in Lexington, by " the militia in arms, and a solemn assembly 
of the whole congregation in the house of God." The sermons preached on these 
occasions, by Rev. Jonas Clark and neighboring clergymen, were all printed ; and 
they form an important part of the literature of the war. On the cover of this 
" souvenir " are sketches of two muskets, drawn from the trophies hanging in the 
Senate Chamber of Massachusetts. On the upper one is inscribed, " The First Fire- 
arm captured in the War for Independence ; " and on the other, " This Fire-arm was 
used by Capt. John Parker in the Battle of Lexington, April 19th, 1775." 





PRESS OF 

Rand, Avery, and Company, 
117 Franklin Street, 

BOSTON. 



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